Big increase in sexual offences on railways

Chief Constable Paul Crowther

Sexual offences recorded by British Transport Police have risen by 21 per cent year-on-year – an increase which is higher than that experienced by police forces nationally.

However, other notifiable crime fell by six per cent during 2013/14 – meaning there were more than 3,000 fewer victims of crime than the previous year.

Notable was a reduction of 18 percent in recorded robberies, a 17 per cent drop in theft of passenger property and a 37 per cent fall in theft of cable from the railway.

British Transport Police (BTP) Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “The initiatives and operations which have made such an impact during the past 12 months really highlight the advantage our specialist knowledge brings to the railway.

“By working with the rail companies and passengers, we are able to truly understand the challenges they face and devise innovative solutions to tackle those problems.”